The CLUB opened in 1959, it had everything a kid wanted. A large gym, swimming pool, game room, and any kind of activity you desired. Summer and winter camp, was a great get away for inner city kids. Camps were in Warsaw Indiana and Williams bay, Wisconsin, to go all you had to do was sell cases of candy, which was really easy, all the top brands. Many buyers just gave you their money, and you kept the candy, and that was cool. Luckily for us the club had a complete dental office. I spent many hours in those dental chairs, they charged you a dollar for a visit, if you were broke, that was OK too, for some that was thier only care. The staff at the club really took an interest in us, you felt like someone was there for you. When the club first opened most of us were from the old club, UPTOWN boys club, it was on the south end of clarendon park, yeah it was small, but we had a blast there. we were all very close. The staff was small, but big hearts they had, Fred Lickerman, Tom Moore, Forrest Conway,Betty Thomas, and best of all Sylvia Rosenberg, they kept that place together with spit and glue. I was a member there for 5 years until the new club opened, even though the new club was bigger and better, we all missed the old one. Many kids were given great opportunities to better their lives, that they wouldn't have gotten otherwise, all you needed was determination. Thats all they expected of you. I miss the old days, I guess you cant live in the past, but the memories are good !!!
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